The Labor enquirer., 1887-10-29

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pso@ 1eoeo. L11,1o ~ Ming from
. toVoe1y VhioA ~ nGIt q them
- uee15ngo ~ ou151L "a prices OF
psod1es ~ - ~ ~ - ~ 10 relief
s1eept thzoqeh bln1po ~. Lsborers
~ ankinG h7o efcailf ~ greater de-
psndeoee s1siiss s. ss11ris6 % With
ost relie4 beeoass q ~ - h1ity Of en-
p!oyefo n many eoeoo ~ ~ living wages,
While moso nd mo6o ~ lE3vDo into the
stRoetB. Blsfnes ~ ~ oollsetions al
most inpooGfblo, moantino hundreds of
millions q IN pIhlle noney which is
needed for relisf = looks1 up in the
Unit6d States tEsas1fy = Gsim mockery
Of Tie distress; land nono6d1y Aourishes
- never Known be6oge, ard more and
moro owners Of ths son ose daily becom-
ing tenants. Great transportation oorpo-
rations still succeed Il sxtorting their
profts upon vatsred s>ook through unjust
charges. The United oGates senate has
become an open scandal, ~ ssats being
purchased BY the rich in open defiance Of
The popular vim. 1 tsi1in9A Ashsries dis
pute 4 ssissd upon y an excuse for nec-
essary military preparations which are
designed TO breed . spirit Of var, to ape
European dsspotism, and 70 empty the
treasury without paying the public debt,
Undsr thsse and olhee alarming condi-
tions vs appeal 70 TIE people Of the
whole country 10 come out Of the old
party organizations, whore indifference
TO the public welfare Il responsible for
this distress, and help ~ to organize a
new political party, not sectional but ma
tional, whose members shall be called
commoners, whose object shall be to re-
peal all class laws IN favor Of the rich, and
to relieve the distress Of our industries
by establishing the following principles:
/. Land-Every human being possesses
a natural, inalienable right to sufficient
land for self support, and We desire to Sc
cure to ever industrious citizen home as
the highest result of free institutions. To
this end we desire . graduated land tax
on all land estates, especially those held
for speculative or tenant purpose; the re-
claimation Of all. unearned land grants;
the immediate opening Of Oklahoma to
homestead settlement; the purchase of
all unoccupied Indian lands, and the set
tlement of the various tribes in severalty;
also laws preventing corporations from
acquiring real estate beyond the requir-
ments of their business, and alien owner
ship Of land. The system Of irrigation,
in states and territories where necessary,
shall be under such public control as shall
secure the free and equitable use of the
waters and franchises to the people.
2. transportation means of COM
munication or transportation should be
controlled by the people, as is the United
States postal system, and equitable rates
everywhere established.
8. Money-The establishment of ma
tionA monetary system in the interest of
the producer instead Of the speculator
and usurer by which circulating medium
in necessary quantity and full legal ten
der, shall be issued directly to the peo-
pie, without the intervention Of banks, or
loaned to citizens upon ample security at
a low rate of interest to relieve them from
the extortions of usury and enable them
to control the money supply. Postal saw
ings banks should be established. While
we have free coinage of gold, we should
have free coinage Of silver. We demand
the prompt payment of the national debt,
and condemn the further issue of interest
bearing bonds, either by the national gov
ernment,. or by states, territories, counties
or municipalities.
4. Labor-Arbitration should take the
place of strikes and other injurious meth
DDS Of settling labor disputes; the letting of
convict labor to contractors be prohibited;
the contract system be abolished in pub
lie works; the hours of labor in industrial
establishments be reduced commensurate
with the increase Of production in labor
saving machinery; employees to be pro-
tected from bodily injury; equal pay be-
ing given for equal work for both sexes,
and labor, agricultural and cooperative
associations be favored and incorporated
by law. The foundation of republic is
the intelligence Of its citizens, and chill
dren who are driven into workshops,
mines and factories are deprived of edu-
cation which should be secured by proper
legislation. We desire to see labor organ
izations extend throughout all civilized
countries, until it shall be impossible for
despots to array the workingmen of one
country in war against their brothers oi
another country.
8. Soldiers and Sailors-In apprecia-
tion of the services of United States sol
diers and sailors we demand for them JUS
tice before charity. The purposely de-
preciated money paid them during the
war should be made equal in value to the
gold paid the bondholder. The soldier
was promised gold or it's equivalent ant
was paid in deprecated paper. The bond
holder loaned the governmensdepreciatet
paper and contracted to take it back, but
was paid in gold.
6. Income Taxa graduated income
is the most equitable system of taxation
placing the burden Of government OF
those who can best AFFORD to pay, instead
of laying it ON the farmers and producers
and exempting millionaire bondholderl
and corporations.
z. United States Senate-Ths capture
Of the United States senate by million
aires and and tools Of corporations wht
have no sympathy with free institutions
threatens the very existence of the repub
lie. We demand q constitutional amend
ment making United States senators elect
i've by direct vote Of the people.
8. Chinese State and national law
should be such a. shah sfRectually exclud
from America the MonQoliay slaves an,